Lounge chair



Au 30, 1949. F. J. LUKETA 2,480,300

LOUNGE CHAIR Filed Oct. 2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l I Bmncutor FRANK J. LUKETA C(ttbmegs F. J. LUKETA Aug. 30, 1949.

LOUNGE CHAIR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Enventor Filed 001:. 2, 1946 -FRANK J. LUKETA' Filed Oct. 2, 1946 g- 30, 1949- F. J LUKETA' 2,480,300"

LOUNGE CHAI R 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Zmvenfor FRANK J. LUKETA (Ittornegs F. J. LUKETA Aug. 30, 1949.

LOUNGE CHAIR 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed 001;. 2, 1946 Isnvcntor FRANK J. LUKETA Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUNGE CHAIR Frank J. Luketa, Seattle, Wash.

, Application October 2, 1946, Serial No. 700,715

7 Claims. (Cl. 155-470) This invention relates to a lounge chair of the general style, shown, for example, in my copending application Serial No. 583,246, filed March 1'7, 1945. In common with that and other copending applications, the present invention has for its general object the provision of a lounge chair in which the seat and the back are independently tiltable at the pleasure of the occupant, and in which a headrest is adjustable relative to the back and a legrest is adjustable with relation to the seat.

Since in this arrangement, as in the copending applicationreferred to, the seat and back tilt about a common pivot axis adjacent the rear edge of the seat, it is an object to provide a mounting for these independently tiltable elements, and preferably also for a part of the power means by which they are tilted, all of which may be coaxially aligned along a common axis, together with means for readily dismounting and remounting all thereof when necessary.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a compact, simple supporting means for the legrest, by means of which it may be projected and extended to an adequate distance in front of the seat, yet at all times be firmly and solidly supported from the seat, or from any other suitable supporting component of the chair, and be retracted wholly thereinto when not in use.

It is also an object to provide a headrest sup- I port whereby forward thrusting of the headrest may be automatically accomplished as it is projected, and vice versa.

Still a further object is generally to simplify the construction and arrangement of chairs of this general sort, to lessen the cost thereof, and to simplify servicing and inspection thereof.

With these and similar objects in mind, as will appear more fully hereinafter, my invention comprises the novel chair and the novel combination and relative arrangement of the parts thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in this specification, and as will be more fully pointed out in the claims which terminate the same.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown embodied in a chair of a formpresently preferred by me.

Figure l is an isometric view of a chair embodying the present invention, the legrest being shown F extended.

Figure 2 is a plan view of such a chair, broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 3 is a general side elevation of such a chair, broken back along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

illustrating particularly the back-tilting and headrest operating mechanism.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the headrest mechanism in a more nearly retracted position, for comparison with Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a broken-away rear elevation of the back and headrest, showing more particularly the headrest operating mechanism.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the. chair, broken away along the line 6-6 of Figure 2, illustrating more particularly the seat-tilting mechanism.

Figure 7 is a broken-away side elevation of the chair, illustrating more particularly the legrest mount and operating mechanism.

Figure 8 is an axial sectional view through the legrest operating mechanism.

In general the chair comprises a seat I, a back 2, spaced opposite arms 3, constituting or enclosing part of a fixed frame, a legrest 4, and a headrest 5. The arms 3 are normally hollow, encasing upright panels 3|, joined by tie rods 32, 32a, and 32b, and terminating in floor-engaging feet 33, by means of which the chair as a whole is supported from the floor.

The frame of the seat I mounts a tubular element |0 extending transversely and of a size to receive within its axial bore the tie rod 32. In this manner the seat is tiltable for raising and lowering about an axis which is defined by that tie rod, and which is located near the rear edge of the seat. Similarly, arms 2| are provided with tubular elements 20, aligned with the tubular element l0 and oscillatable about the tie rod 32. The arms 2| are secured to the sides of the frame of the back 2, so that the back is thus tiltable about an axis in common with the seat-tilting axis.

Power means for effecting tilting of the seat and of the back independently of one another are conveniently carried by one or the other of the panels 3| within the respective arms 3, and these power means may include tubular elements which are mounted upon and rotatable about the same tie rod 32 which mounts the tubular elements l0 and 20, so that all these tubular elements are aligned one with another, and mutually act as spacers along this tie rod. Such tubular elements are illustrated at l I and at 21, see Figure 2, wherein they are represented as worm gears. A motor l9, acting through a worm pinion I8, drives the worm wheel l1, and upon the collar of this worm wheel I1 is mounted a sprocket wheel l6, which through a chain I5 rotates a sprocket wheel l6 upon the tubular shaft M which is journaled about so another tie rod 32a. A lever arm l3 (actually two such arms, one at each side) is fast upon the tubular shaft l4 and the end of the latter is connected by a link I2 to the underside of the seat I, the link l2 and lever l3 constituting a toggle or dog-leg leverage whereby the seat may be raised or lowered.

A similar arrangement may be employed for effecting tilting of the back 2. A motor 29 op erating through a worm pinion 2B in mesh with the worm gear 2'! already referred to, drives sprocket wheels 26 and 26' connected by the chain 25. The sprocket wheel 26 is fast upon a tubular shaft 24 journaled about another tie rod 321). Fast to the tubular shaft 24 is the toggle leverage 23, 22, the link 22 being connected to the frame of the back 2 outwardly of its pivot at 26.

The legrest 4 is hingedly mounted at 48, to tilt relative to and at the outer end of supporting means by which it is projectible and retractable with respect to the seat I. means are in the form of two telescoping posts, one at each side of the seat, of a construction which is about to be described in detail. In the construction illustrated they are mounted upon and tilt with the seat, but are not shown as tiltable relative to the seat.

Each legrest support includes three telescoping tubular members or posts, namely an innermost member 4|, an intermediate member 42 surrounding the post 4|, and an outermost member 44 which in turn surrounds the post 42, and within which the latter is axially sliclable. Since the legrest is hinged at directly to the outer end of each of the two posts 4|, it is clear these members 4| can not rotate. A pin 43 projects from each member '4| into a longitudinal slot 43 in the intermediate tubular member 42, hence it is clear that the member 42 is held against rotation. The outermost tubular member 44 is journaled at 48 and 48' in the frame of a main support such as the seat I, and carries a sprocket wheel 45, whereby it may rotate, but these journals hold it against longitudinal movement.

Longitudinal movement is imparted to each of the members 42 and 4| as a result of rotation of the member 44. A nonrotative intermediate member 42 is threadedly engaged at 42 with the internal threads 44' of the rotative outermost member 44. It follows that whenever the member 44 is rotated the member 42 is projected or retracted, depending upon the sense of rotation. The nonrotative innermost member 4! is threadedly engaged at 4| with the threads of an axially disposed screw 46 which is supported at 46 for rotation but against axial movement within the tube 42, and which is rotated whenever the tube 44 rotates by reason of the engagement of the feather 46, fast upon the screw 46, within a longitudinal groove 4! within the tube 44. It follows that whenever the member 44 is rotated the member 4| is projected or retracted, depending upon the sense of rotation.

Thus projection or retraction of the members 4| and 42 is a result of rotation of the member 44, which is readily accomplished by means such as the chains 45' from the motor 49, carried by the seat, to each sprocket wheel 45. But it is necessary to insure that the innermost member 4| shall project relative to the intermediate member 42, at the same time that it is being projected with the latter. In other words, projection of member 4| relative to member 44 should be at, let us say, twice the rate, in the axial sense, as the rate of projection of member 42 relative to member 44. Thus, as 42 projects relative to the These supporting seat, 4| projects likewise relative to 42. This is readily accomplished by the construction already described, if it be remembered that the journal at 45 of the screw 46 causes the screw to advance axially with (that is, without axial movement with respect to) the member 42, yet the coincident rotation of the screw, caused by the en agement of its feather 46' within the groove 41 of the rotative member 44, causes the member 4| to advance axially relative to the screw 46 (being threaded thereon at 4|) and hence relative to the member 42.

Naturally, rotation of the tubular member 44 in the opposite sense, by reversal of the motor 49, will effect retraction of the legrest. The members 4| and 42 will telescope within one another and within the member 44, until finally the legrest 4 is withdrawn closely against the front edge of the seat, as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 7, or it may be stopped in any position intermediate its extreme positions, by proper control of the motor 49. By reason of the telescoping interengagement of the posts 4|, 42, and 44 the legrest 4 can be supported solidly in any adjusted position and can be adjusted to an appreciable distance outwardly from its supporting seat, yet the projecting means can be housed within the short depth of the seat. Incidentally, it will be noted from Figure 7 that the legrest is weighted to hang in a somewhat inclined position when projected, where it will serve as a footrest, or whence it can be tilted to rest beneath the calves of the occupant of the chair. When retracted, however, its dependent lower edge engages the front edge of the seat, and the final retractive movement swings it fiat against the front edge of the seat, as has already been mentioned.

The headrest operating mechanism includes a lever arm 5| pivotally connected at 50 to the under or rear side of the headrest, and this lever arm 5| has two fulcra represented at 52 and 53, by means of which its movement is controlled. The fulcrum 53 slides lengthwise of a guide slot 54 in the back 2, and the fulcrum 52 is carried by a nut 55, which travels along a screw 56 whereon it is threaded. It may also carry a traveler movable along a slot 51, parallel to the screw 56. Rotation of the two screws 55, one at each side, is effected by means of a motor 59 and the common drive connection illustrated at 58.

It will be noted that whereas the fulcrum 52 necessarily travels in a straight line extending generally up and down the back, the guide slot 54, which guides movement of the fulcrum 53, has a portion 51 which is inclined with respect to the screw 56, although the terminal portions of the guide 54 are generally parallel to the screw 56. These two guides are so arranged, one relative to the other, that as the arms 5| and headrest 5 are projected outwardly, they will first project above the upper edge of the back, and then as projection continues, the headrest will be thrust forwardly with respect to the back to place it in more comfortable position for the occupant.

The controls for the several motors, each of which is reversible, are indicated generally at 39. The chair may be provided also with a leaf 38 hingedly mounted at 31 to swing downwardly and to constitute a convenient table for the support of an ash tray, for example, or afiording access to a storage space within the upper part of the arm, if that be desired.

It will be noted that the connections across from one arm to the other arm are formed wholly of the necessary cross-connections which are part of the operative mechanism. The design is clean and simple, and all parts are readily accessible by removal of the hollow arms 3 and, indeed, for dismounting of all parts of the chair it is only necessary to remove the three tie rods 32, 32a, and 32b.

I claim as my invention:

1. A lounge chair comprising a seat, a legrest.

a first, outermost internally threaded tube journaled in the seat, a second, innermost internally threaded tube non-rotatively secured to the legrest, a third, intermediate tube externally threaded into said first tube for projection therefrom and retraction thereinto, said second tube being slidably guided in for projection and retraction with respect to said intermediate tube, a screw threaded into said second tube and journaled in said intermediate tube for rotation and to resist relative thrust, drive means interconnecting said screw and said first tube to rotate the screw conjointly with rotation of said first tube, and means to rotate said first tube at will to effect projection or retraction of the leg rest relative to the seat.

2. A lounge chair comprising a seat, a legrest, a first, outermost tube internally threaded and internally longitudinally grooved, said tube being journaled in the seat for rotation and to resist relative thrust, a second, innermost tube internally threaded and non-rotatively secured to the legrest, a third, intermediate tube externally threaded into said first tube for projection therefrom and retraction thereinto, a longitudinally slidable but relatively non-rotative interengagement between said innermost and intermediate tubes, a screw threaded in said innermost tube and journaled in said intermediate tube for rotation and to resist relative thrust, a feather fixed to said screw and engaged within the groove of said outermost tube, to efiect rotation of the screw by rotation of said outermost tube, and means to rotate said outermost tube to effect compound projection of the several tubes and of the legrest relative to the seat, or retraction.

3. In a chair, in combination with a principal support and a main body-supporting member carried thereby, an auxiliary body-supporting member movable from and towards said main body-supporting member, and supporting means for said auxiliary body-supporting member comprising three telescopingly arranged tubular posts, the outermost post being supported for rotation but against axial movement, and'being internally threaded, the intermediate post being threadedly engaged with and axially slidable within the outermost post, an axially disposed screw rotatively journaled within said intermediate post, but against axial movement relative thereto, and threadedly engaged with said innermost post, means interengaged between said screw and said outermost post to rotate the screw by rotation of the outermost post, said innermost post being connected to the auxiliary body-supporting member, to be thereby held against rotation, means interengaged between the innermost post and the intermediate post to restrain rotation of the latter, but permitting their relative axial movement, and means to rotate the outermost post in either rotative sense.

4. In a chair, a seat, a leg rest, a plurality of telescopingly connected posts carried by said seat and supporting said leg rest for movement between retracted and projected positions, and means carried by the seat operatively connected to the individual posts to project or to retract each proportionately to the projection or retraction of all others.

5. In a chair, a seat, a leg rest, an outside post mounted at each side of the seat for forward sliding movement from retracted to projected positions, and vice versa, means carried by the seat so to slide each of said outside posts, an inside post guided in each outside post for similar sliding movement, and means interconnecting each inside post, its outside post, and said seat, to slide each of said inside posts relative to and in the same sense as their corresponding outside posts, conjointly with and as a result of sliding movement of the latter, the leg rest being mounted upon said inside posts.

6. In a chair, a seat, a leg rest, an outside post mounted at each side of the seat for forward sliding movement from retracted to projected positions, and vice versa, a nut and jack screw pair mounted, one element upon each outside post and the other upon the seat, and by relative rotation efiecting such sliding movement of said outside post, an inside post guided upon each outside post for lengthwise sliding movement, a second nut and jack screw pair mounted, one element upon each outside post and the other upon its inside post, and by relative rotation efieoting such sliding movement of the inside posts relative to their outside posts, and means operatively connecting the rotative element of the first nut and screw pairs with the rotative element of the second such pairs, so arranged'as to project the inside posts conjointly with the projection of V the outside posts, and vice versa, the leg rest being mounted upon said inside posts.

'7. In a chair, a seat, a leg rest, an outside post mounted in each side of the seat for forward sliding movement from retracted to projected positions, and vice versa, means including a nut formed upon the outside posts and a cooperating jack screw element journaled in the seat in parallelism to the posts mounting, for effecting such projection and retraction, two inside posts, whereon the leg rest is supported, mounted upon the respective outside posts for lengthwise sliding movement, means including a second nut carried by each inside post and a second jack screw journaled in each outside post and threaded within the corresponding second nut, for effecting such lengthwise movement of each inside post relative to its outside post, and means operatively interconnecting the two jack screws for conjoint and like rotation, to project and to retract the two posts conjointly.

FRANK J. LUKETA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153,478 Cutter July 28, 1874 155,187 Enger Sept. 22, 1874 235,705 Schwaab Dec. 21, 1880 328,337 Patterson Oct. 13, 1885 614,666 Petry Nov. 22, 1898 1,182,125 Whitehead May 9, 1916 

